Plantronics will be releasing its gaming-centric RIG headset on 5 October. The headset will retail for $149.99 from Dick Smith, Officeworks, EB Games, and JB HiFi, with pre-orders available now from the latter two stores.

RIG is the first console-centric headset from Plantronics since it partnered with Microsoft for the headset used with the original Xbox. While Plantronics has been releasing headsets aimed at PC gamers with its Gamecom sub-brand, RIG is the first gaming peripheral to be released under the Plantronics name.

Plantronics A/NZ gaming director, Peter Petrides, said RIG has been designed to allow gamers to seamlessly switch between audio and chat, at home and on-the-go, with mobile audio, music, apps, and phone calls. “RIG is the beginning of the next wave in what gamers will come expect from their headsets,” he said.

Petrides added that the vendor's extensive experience with acoustics, industrial design, and communications meant that RIG was designed from the ground up for the high performance needs of gaming. “At the same time, it's also giving users new levels of versatility by combining other elements of their lifestyle into one seamless, user-controlled experience,” he said.

RIG aims to stand out from other gaming headsets with the inclusion of a mixer, enabling users to switch between game chat and taking a phone call on-the-fly, just by touching a paddle.

“With a complete system of headset, mixer, convertible cables, and two-way access to smartphone audio and voice communication, RIG gives users the power to integrate their lives with an ultimate gaming audio experience,” Petrides said.

In addition to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 compatibility, RIG can be used with PC and Mac, smartphones and tables.

The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.

My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

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